San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-13
A Dangerous Game.
by THE AUTHOR OF 'MY DEAREST HEART"

ignorant OF the persecution wnIcn you ana
Lady Martin had determined 10 subject me
TO, and / stayed to fight against your
prejudices, since they had no ground in rea-
son or justice. know my position tempts
you TO say hard things; but ii is fair and
| right that the Grange should come to Gilbert,
and hold it for him. Lord Ormsby's home
is a hundred times grander, Hilda; you need
not be enviOus OF Gilbert and me-"
had thought that she was growing softer,
and did not SPEAK angrily. was wounded
to the heart that Glib rt's cousin, should
cherish such implacable hatred Of me, and
sOrely grieved, but not angry.
Now however her face was set more re-
lentlessly than ever.
Gilbert and your she echoed in bitter
tones. You talk well, Miss ThOrne; you
should have been an actress. But know
you too well to be deceived by evasion and
clap-trap! You have heard what intend
TO do. l have no more to say to you"
did not attempt 10 say another word,
and she left me-
| maryelled over and pOndered what she
had said, and for n time was very misera-
BILE, wretched, and panied that any one
should think so cruelty of me, and that one
OF Gilbert's relatives should be my enemy.
But as | thought of her words became
more wrOth, and the hot indignation dried
up my tears. | had done no wrong, l had
injured no one; it would not have been right
that she should inherit the Grange. What
was it to her that Gilbert had chosen me to
be his wife, to share whatever fortune should
he his; and how dared she thus insult his
promised wife In what was already my own
house?
should have understood better her words
and actions, which seemed to me then mad
ly unreasoning, had known that the law
yer she consulted was Crawford Garden,
who had told her the lies invented by his
own black heart, had told her that Ly
promise was given to him-him whom l
hated from the first moment heard his false
voice-and only broken when learned that
the old man dissimulated to was relenting
towards his nephew-had told her that it
was who had persuaded Mr.. GascOigne to
leave the property as 1t was left, and that
she, Hilda, had played my game in betray-
ing the secrecy with which Itheatrically en-
shrouded for while my meetings with Gil
bert.
II do not doubt" Garden had said, that
you can get the will set aside on the ground
of unsound mind or undue influence; but
you will see how impossible 1t is for me to
undertake the case. believe she is marry
ing Mr.. Gilbert Gascoigne now only to ST.
lence talk and stop such an action"
They could do him little good, these wan
ton, deliberate lies; but he knew hated
him, and he sought but to injure me in any
way he could, Infatuated as he was by the
slight put upon him by Mr.. Gascoigne's will,
for which he imagined was partly respon-
sible.
One or two, who know the story, say that
they believe he loved me and wished in any
way to break my engagement with Gilbert
But do not credit it, There are many ways
of loving, have learned to know; but do
not believe one spark of real affection die
tated his treachery. 1t was ambition-am-
bitiOn which made him feign love for me
when he watched my growing favor in Mr..
Gascoigne's eyes, and disappointed ambition
which made him anxious to wreak his
vengeance on me, whether by so doing he
might or might not think ever to obtain for
himself the riches of the Grange He was
furious too with Gilbert, who frankly and
steadfastly independent, had won what he
had plotted and lied to win.
can understand that Jealous love was the
handspring of Hida's cruelty; it filled her
whole heart and mind, and perverted her
reason so that she may have accepted as
truth what she was ready and willing to be-
lieve. But he? No; there was not room for
love in his self-absOrbed and scheming life.
But of all this | thought nothing then.
guessed nothing of Hilda's jealousy it never
for a moment occurred to me that she would
consult Mr.. Garden, and fell to wondering
what would come of her threat, whether she
could do anything, suppOsing Others thought
as she did, to dispOssess Gilbert and me of
the Grange. Inever imagined it was only
she wished to drive away. yevery thought
was bound up in Gilbert.
| told GwendOline of the threat but Of
Hilda's insulting words | told no one. She
only laughed sarcastically.
You need not be afraid, Viola. Hilda
can do nothing. No one else will ever ac-
cuse you of influencing my poor uncle. Is
there any other willr'
81 don't think there is one in existence"
Then what can II matter? Without a
will, everything, Hilda's fortune and my
own also, goes to Gilbert; and do not sup
pose Hilda can dispute existing arrange
ments without Gilbert's aid. So long as you
two love each other, child, you need not
care"
Are you sure?' | asked her wistfuly.
Are you sure" she said, in return, that
she cannot make Gilbert believe as she
does? If accusations are made, will he
stand by you through them alp"
Il hope So" faltered. 81 think he
would"
She put her hands on my shoulders and
looked me keenly in the face.
There should be no thinking Viola"
she said earnestly. Don't marry him I'M
less you can trust him wholly, and he you.
Take my word for it, nothing will make
marriage bearable but confidence in one an
other"
And then there came before me the hon
est handsome face of my lover and his clear
true eyes.
1--WE do trust each other" answered
proudly and fOndly.
She turned away with little sigh.
Happy childP' she murmured softly.
Don't fret over Hilda's words" she added
aloud, in gentle accents. Believe Inc, 1t is
only empty talk"
And l did believe her. If grew sad some
times as remembered them, l feared no
evil result.
CHAPTER XVII.
A letter came from Lord Martin Pomeroy
to tell his wife when he should be in Eng
land, and expressing hope that she would
return with him to India in October.
Il suppose you will gO?" said Hilda.
II suppose So" answered Gwendoline, In
those dull inanimate tones she always fell
into when speaking of her husband.
A q the limo Of hin drnnU nRar-fAr